Environmentalists warn snow leopards could 'vanish'

Figures from the World Wildlife Fund's recent report show that the populations of these big cats have dropped by about a fifth in the past 16 years with only an estimated 4,000 or fewer currently remaining in the wild in Asia.

Exacerbating the situation is the organization's calculation that climate change could render more than a third of their current habitat unlivable if trends continue.

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Snow leopards at risk of going extinct

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Environmentalists warn snow leopards could 'vanish'

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 03: Snow leopard seen at Bronx Zoo on January 3, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/WireImage)

Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) adult running on snow, Asia (Captive)

Snow leopard (Panthera india), Montana, United States of America, North America

Close up of leopard yawning in snow.

A young Snow Leopard resting on some rocks

Playful Snow Leopard rolling in snow and sticking out tongue

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Snow leopards tend to be natural mountain dwellers at high elevations ranging from more than 11,000 feet to nearly 15,000 feet.

Scientists worry that rising global temperatures will allow farmers to grow crops and graze animals higher in the terrain which would reduce habitats for these endangered cats.

They also become more susceptible to killings by humans due to retribution over captive animals that are killed in addition to hunting and poaching.